Dont face judges come into this ??

Hi
I've been showing for 2 years now and can honestly say I have never left the ring and said I was hard done by.Not saying it doesn't happen but have not experienced it personally.Have deserved it every time we've been thrown out or placed last and consider myself very lucky to have been placed well in good company.
Archer

Several years ago a 'newcomer' in our breed bought a dog as a pet with no intention of showing. He decided to give it ago for the day out, got placed 1st and the bug had bitten. His dog became the breed record holder for CCs.
so it is possible to do really well with your first show dog. Different Judges like different types and you will soon be know who is likely to like your dog, perhaps more than others.

ive only had sharpei about 7-8 years, my first was top puppy bitch-best of breed at crufts and many other good wins-my second was top puppy dog-won a puppy stake at a champshow, many other wins, and on letting him go into a partnership later got made up------i now show one i bred myself, who is the currrent breed record holder-im top breeder too, ---so yes if youve got them good enough you can do it-----not everyones pleased about it though, theres a lot of bad losers out there,

Well done Dizzy - there's alot to be proud about there, you must be on top of the world.

And now his daughter has beaten him into the record books!
:)

True - what a feeling that must be, and her litter sister, if shown enough would have done equally as well - I think anyway. There are lots of people eager to say she is just as nice if not nicer - all personal opinions, but must be great to have your progeny talked of in this way :)

I took my male bulldog to three shows, i was a newcomer, you could have knocked me down with a feather when he got a first and a second, and a couple of thirds, i can understand how you get the bug for showing, i really enjoyed it but my husband didnt, so stopped then, didnt fancy going by myself.

Oh Carol (no pun intended :D ). I am sure you could find another exhibitor to go to shows with, give you a girls day out, and something of your own to enjoy. I am the only dog mad one in my family, and what interest the kids had in shows has long evaporated!

I wish i could but none of my friends have dogs, they all think i am mad, they cant understand how i can love an animal so much, maybe they are mad, its traveling on my own i dont like.its a bit lonely.

If you join a local Ringcraft you may well find someone who has a dog in the same group who would happily share costs of getting to shows. Due to very poor sight I cannot drive, and attend all shows thanks to other people. Youy soon make contacts.

Sorry to sound stupid, but where can i find out about a local ringcraft.

http://www.bestofbreeds.dabsol.co.uk/clubcorner/dogs/ringcraftclubs.htm

Ringcraft is a great place to learn how to show the dogs and make friends. Even when the dogs sare well trained most people keep going just to have a chat with the freinds they have made, to exchange happenings in the ring and out. For the cost of the session £1 or £2 where else can you go for a chat with likeminded folk.

How can you tell which judges would like your dog? Or is it just a case of experience and getting to know the names and sort of dogs they like. I recently spoke to my breeder and asked her whether going to a certain champ show in October would be worth it, and, she said the judge can be a bit 'facey' but she does like that particular type of beagle. How does a newcomer, like myself, know which judges would be best, without spending loads of money on champ shows?

I ask my breeders what they think about our chances under certain judges - are we the right type. We've gotten to know a couple to avoid totally and others who are good (even if we dont' win LOL). On the other hand this year I decided that as long as it was a weekend I would enter all the Ch shows in my area in spite of the judge - it's not just about winning, but it's about experience - and I figured that it was worth the money to get out there and 'seen' (both me and my dog) whether we won or not - whether we were the right 'type' for the judge or not. We played careful the last year or so and it didn't do us any good so with being busy this year Savannah's showing style has improved and we've actually done really well - even under judges who 'might' not have liked our type. I did draw the line at weekday shows if I knew the judge didn't like our type as it was the entry cost plus the cost of taking a day off work.

If you can afford it get out there as much as you can and take each one as a learning experience. Ringcraft is great, but it doesn't have the same feel to the dog that a show does. Now that we've got out there, and we'll be busy the rest of this season, then next year we'll probably be more choosy

I hope I explained myself well enough.

Wendy

Wendy, you make perfect sense. I think I will take your advice and enter as many champ shows as possible, as it is experience and you can see how experienced breeders show their dogs - maybe even pick up some tips along the way. At least it is a way of getting yourself known in the show ring. As for winning, I am sure that would be a long way off anyway, so I suppose I shouldn't be concerned, at the moment, about the right 'type' of dog for the judge.

I know she can perform (when she feels like it) as she has won a couple of companion shows but a champ show is a totally different kettle of fish, and to be honest I am looking forward to the first one, although I think nervous will be a slight understatement.

Thanks for your advice.
Sarah

Sarah, Savannah (whippet) is my first show dog. She played me up something awful when we first started - I was new to showing, she was a pup - and you can see how that combination goes as it sounds like you are just starting out now. The comments from ring side that hubby would overhear were 'oh look how she can move when she wants to - shame she doesn't want to the whole time'. And actually it was meant kindly and I took it that way - as encouragement. There were a ton of times over the past year or two that we did think about quitting because we just didn't think she'd 'get it', but we perservered. Everyone told us she had all the right stuff, she just needed time to pull it together and that when she hit 2 or 3 it would all come together. She's 2.5 now and it really is. She's done well this year.

I tell you this basically to say don't get discouraged whatever happens. You may not do well - and then again you might. Don't listen to the ringside people who talk about 'faces'. I've decided that unless my dog is STUNNING of course 'faces' are more likely to win - they know and breed quality dogs. Last weekend Savvy came RBOB at an open show 2nd to a 'face', but who's dog was brilliant! 2 years ago I never dreamed we'd get that close:)

Champ shows are fun! Bring someone with you when you go, sit round the ring with the others watching and listen to their comments. I've heard that on the whole Beagle people (I assume you're showing a beagle?) are pretty nice so get some opinions from them on the dogs in the ring at the time - ask what makes the winner a good dog etc. You can learn a LOT.

And make sure you have fun!! Don't stress or your dog will feel it - just go in with the idea that you're there to have fun and for the experience - your dog may surprise you:)

And most importantly whatever happens YOU always go home with the best dog on the day. Everyone says it and it's a cliche, but it's very TRUE!

Wendy

ps - when is your first champ show??

wendy

Wendy, our first champ show is the Hound Show in Stafford on 2nd August. Will you be there with your whippet?

Yes we will be there, so will Chelsea, my whippet-mix - though she'll be in the car with hubby:) Email me privately and we can exchange info and meet up:)

Wendy

Wendy, I've just noticed on your details that you do agility as well - Snap!!!! I do agility with my other beagle. How long have you been doing it, do you compete and what sort of dog do you have?

I think that's enough questions for now.

sarah

I have Chelsea a 5.5 year old whippet mix - we've been doing agility with her since she was just over 2 years I think. And Savannah (2.5 year old whippet) started puppy pre-agility at about 8 months (learning the commands, going over jumps on the ground and through the tunnels etc).

We don't compete, we just go to class for fun, but they LOVE it:)

Wendy

Carol,
Where are you
Norm